Kumawu By-election: Nobody can influence me with money – Independent candidate
An independent candidate in the upcoming Kumawu by-election, Kwaku Duah, has expressed confidence in securing a win to replace the late Member of Parliament, Philip Basoah.
Speaking on GhanaAkoma’s morning show with Aduanaba Kofi Asante Ennin on AkomaFM, Kwaku Duah said his conviction is borne out of the greater support from the masses whom he noted, rather persuaded him to contest in the previous elections and that support remains unwavering even upon the declaration of their seat in Parliament as vacant following the demise of the MP.
Mr. Kwaku Duah hinted that following his formal announcement to re-contest the seat in the upcoming by-election, he can never be influenced by any group or individuals to withdraw from the race.
He pointed out that he has not demanded any money or cash from any group or individuals in the area.
Mr. Kwaku Duah said he is not bothered by the intimidation and blackmail but remains true to the people.
The 62-year-old businessman first contested in the 2020 Kumawu Parliamentary election as an independent candidate and made a case by getting more than 11,000 votes as against the over 14,000 polled by the late MP.
Mr. Kwaku Duah observed that contesting in the previous elections was in response to the persuasion by the people.
He told the host that unlike the independent candidate who won the Fomena parliamentary seat in the 2020 election, he will not align with any of the two political parties if he wins the election and becomes the MP.
Instead, he will vote and debate on issues purely from a national perspective and the greater interest of his constituents.
“Kwaku Duah in Parliament, no matter where my seat is doesn’t matter to me. The issue at stake, the first question I’ll ask is, how is it going to benefit mother Ghana so that my Constituency can also benefit from it and that is how I’m going to cast my votes. So Kwaku Duah will look beyond colours and vote on issues,” he said.
Mr. Kwaku Duah stated that despite losing his bid in the 2020 election, he is still helping the constituency to address some of their critical needs with a focus on sanitation and tourism, roads and other areas he is financing in various communities to benefit the people.
Asked for his opinion about the emergence of another independent candidate bearing almost the same information as him on the ballot paper for the by-election, Mr. Kwaku Duah said he is not the least perturbed even though that person is being sponsored by one of the contesting political parties just to split his potential votes to cause his defeat.
“The other Kwaku who is my family member has been enticed by other group or individuals who wants him to lose,” he said.
Voters in the Kumawu Constituency in the Ashanti Region will on Tuesday, May 23 go back to the poll to choose a replacement for their Member of Parliament, Philip Atta Basoah, who died on Monday, March 27 while in his 3rd consecutive term.
By Benjamin Aidoo|Akoma FM|3news.com|Ghana
